Out of state Senate and into JP position

Updated 11:02 pm, Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Photo: John W Gonzalez, San Antonio Express-News

Image 1of/15

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 15

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (left) is interviewed on Dec. 18, 2012, by members of Bexar County Commissioners Court before being awarded the job of justice of the peace in Precinct 3, effective January. Wentworth lost his re-election bid in November but wants to remain in public service.

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (left) is interviewed on Dec. 18, 2012, by members of Bexar County Commissioners Court before being awarded the job of justice of the peace in Precinct 3, effective January. Wentworth

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth and his wife, Karla, greet supporters at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna Campbell. Wentworth, 71, served in the Texas House since 1988. He has been a state senator since 1993.

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth and his wife, Karla, greet supporters at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr.

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth hugs a supporter after addressing an audience at Chester's Hamburgers after getting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna Campbell. Wentworth, 71, served in the Texas House since 1988. He has been a state senator since 1993.

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth hugs a supporter after addressing an audience at Chester's Hamburgers after getting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth shakes hands with supporters at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna Campbell. Wentworth, 71, served in the Texas House since 1988. He has been a state senator since 1993.

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth shakes hands with supporters at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth meets with the media at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna Campbell. Wentworth, 71, served in the Texas House since 1988. He has been a state senator since 1993. less

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth meets with the media at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna Campbell. ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 6 of 15

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth addresses supporters at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna Campbell. Wentworth, 71, served in the Texas House since 1988. He has been a state senator since 1993.

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth addresses supporters at Chester's Hamburgers while awaiting results from the District 25 runoff election on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Wentworth lost the race to Dr. Donna Campbell.

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth addresses an audience at the Alamo City Republican Women luncheon on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Wentworth is in a run-off in the state senate race against Dr. Donna Campbell.

Texas Senator Jeff Wentworth addresses an audience at the Alamo City Republican Women luncheon on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Wentworth is in a run-off in the state senate race against Dr. Donna Campbell.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 8 of 15

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth speaks during the 2012 Texas GOP Convention held at the Fort Worth Convention Center Thursday June 7, 2012 in Fort Worth, Texas. Wentworth and emergency room physician Donna Campbell are in a runoff for state Senate District 25.

Texas Sen. Jeff Wentworth is interviewed by media while waiting for final results on election night at Chester's Hamburgers, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Wentworth is running tight race in the Republican District 25 primary with his main opponent, Elizabeth Ames Jones.

Texas Sen. Jeff Wentworth is interviewed by media while waiting for final results on election night at Chester's Hamburgers, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Wentworth is running tight race in the Republican District 25

Texas Sen. Jeff Wentworth checks out the latest results while rating for the final tally at Chester's Hamburgers on election night, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Wentworth is running tight race in the Republican District 25 primary with his main opponent, Elizabeth Ames Jones.

Texas Sen. Jeff Wentworth checks out the latest results while rating for the final tally at Chester's Hamburgers on election night, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Wentworth is running tight race in the Republican

Texas Sen. Jeff Wentworth looks over results while waiting out eleciton night at Chester's Hamburgers, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Wentworth is running tight race in the Republican district 25 primary with his main opponent, Elizabeth Ames Jones.

Texas Sen. Jeff Wentworth looks over results while waiting out eleciton night at Chester's Hamburgers, Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Wentworth is running tight race in the Republican district 25 primary with his main

Senator Jeff Wentworth places one of his signs at Alamo Heights High School on election day.

Senator Jeff Wentworth places one of his signs at Alamo Heights High School on election day.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 14 of 15

Senator Jeff Wentworth (left) speaks with Alamo Heights resident Ann Wells (right) after she voted on election day at Cambridge Elementary School. Standing in the background is Alex Gutierrez.

Senator Jeff Wentworth (left) speaks with Alamo Heights resident Ann Wells (right) after she voted on election day at Cambridge Elementary School. Standing in the background is Alex Gutierrez.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 15 of 15

Out of state Senate and into JP position

1 / 15

Back to Gallery

Even after four decades in elected office, defeated state Sen. Jeff Wentworth says he isn't ready to bow out of public service.

When Bexar County hung a vacancy sign over the Northeast Side justice of the peace office, he applied — along with 32 other candidates — and Tuesday, he got the job.

Commissioners Court unanimously selected Wentworth, R-San Antonio, to fill the post for two years with a mandate to clean up a “big mess” left by Justice of the Peace Keith Baker, who's retiring next month.

Baker was pressured by Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff to exit following disclosures that Baker wasn't issuing many warrants and refused to use the county's new computer system.

Wentworth assumes the part-time role, which pays about $63,500 annually, on Jan. 8. By then, he'll be replaced in District 25 by state Sen.-elect Donna Campbell, who upset Wentworth's re-election bid Nov. 6.

Next month, he'll also start collecting what he called “a pretty nice check” as a retired lawmaker, so he won't have to moonlight as an attorney and Realtor.

“I wasn't ready to retire,” Wentworth, 71, told commissioners — four Democrats and one Republican — who picked him over several other finalists, including a former county court-at-law judge.

Most Popular

“I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the people of Bexar County,” he said.

Wentworth, who took his Senate seat in 1993, said he'll decide later whether to run for the office in two years. In the meantime, he vowed to apply himself full time to the office's management woes and paperwork backlogs.

A county commissioner from 1976-82, and Texas House member from 1989-93, Wentworth said his extensive resume — serving in city, county and state positions — qualified him for the job, and commissioners agreed.

County Judge Nelson Wolff said Wentworth displayed the commitment and credentials commissioners were seeking. State law doesn't require a JP to be an attorney.

“It's going to take a lot of time — at least on the front end — to get this docket in the condition it needs to be in,” the county judge said.

His son, Kevin Wolff, added: “We're essentially asking a part-time position to work full time almost and clean up a pretty big mess.”

Also Tuesday, commissioners:

Delayed until Jan. 29 further consideration of Gordon Hartman's plans for the 527-acre Century Oaks development near Evans Road. Although the developer insists all state and local requirements were met, neighbors turned out in force to disagree and plea for a delay. Hoping to avert threatened litigation, commissioners directed the two sides to meet with county attorneys to seek agreements on issues including environmental impact, housing density, traffic and drainage.

Honored San Antonio police Sgt. Jesse Garcia for his bravery on Nov. 3, when he rescued two women from a burning vehicle. He received the Fire Marshal's Medal of Valor Award.

Declared January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, acknowledged county and other efforts to address the problem, and vowed to back related legislative efforts in 2013.